Tree proposal sprouts opposition; Montclair, NJ

NorthJersey.com: Tree proposal sprouts opposition:
A tree trunk lies along a Frink Street driveway. A municipal advisory group wants to require residents to obtain permits before removing trees on private property.
The Township Council could require Montclair property owners to seek approval before cutting down trees on their land.
A tree preservation ordinance proposed by the Montclair Environmental Commission is making its way through legal review. If approved by the council, it would then establish regulations for tree care on public and private property in Montclair.
As drafted, the ordinance requires homeowners to pay for permits to cut down trees on their land and participate in a tree replacement program, according to commission member James Sherman, the commission’s point person for the tree ordinance.

STAFF PHOTO BY ADAM ANIK

Ideas pitched to strengthen the tree bylaw; Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Ideas pitched to strengthen the tree bylaw - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA:
A small but hardy band of arboreal advocates came out Tuesday in a bid to strengthen the city's nine-year-old bylaw protecting trees in private woodlots.
About 40 residents, many of them involved in the original quest to get city council to approve the bylaw in 2001, attended a public meeting in the Mohawk Park Pavilion. They presented ideas to strengthen the bylaw against the possibility of wholesale cutting, expand the city's tree canopy, and extend its provisions to include 'heritage' trees not necessarily in woodlots.
It was clear from the comments of many that irresponsible developers remain the biggest enemy, just as they were in 2001.

Weird Numbers Part 2: The Natural Heritage Strategy Tree Replacement Equation or ‘Two Tens for a Five Anybody?’; Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Weird Numbers Part 2: The Natural Heritage Strategy Tree Replacement Equation or ‘Two Tens for a Five Anybody?’ « Royal City Rag:
The Draft Natural Heritage Strategy includes a tree replacement policy that contains two components. The first compenent establishes that any trees removed must be replaced and introduces an equation to calculate the replacement value of a given tree. The second, introduces the concept of cash in lieu of trees.
Unfortunately, the first component is nonsensical while the second is meaningless.
The current draft policies require that if a tree is removed trees totaling an equal diameter must replace it. The example below will demonstrate the absurdity of this mathematical reasoning.

Op ed piece questions proposed tree ordinance, cites Council champion's reservations; Chapel Hill, NC

chapelhillnews.com Up the wrong tree:
When even Jim Ward questions the wisdom of the proposed new regulations restricting tree-cutting in Chapel Hill, you have to take notice.
Ward, a member of the Chapel Hill Town Council, is also curator at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. His tree-loving credentials are unimpeachable.
But even Ward has strong doubts about the proposed new ordinance. It looks, he said, 'like a very, very blunt instrument that is perhaps overreaching what we need to do.'

Marrickville Greens issue tree policy for community-includes goal of 10% more tree canopy; Marrickville, Australia

Greens tree policy « Marrickville & Petersham-Newtown Greens:
The Greens seek to expand Marrickville’s urban tree canopy and to enrich public spaces with trees, understory planting, bush pockets and landscaping, providing amenity to residents and increasing habitat for native animal species.
The Greens vision is to encourage and facilitate council and residents to plant more trees, larger trees and more endemic and native trees and to protect and maintain the existing tree stock.
We see a Marrickville that is shady and fresh where trees enhance the urban environment providing relief from traffic, industrial activity, urban infrastructure and pollution. The Greens want to reduce the heat of our summers and help fight climate change.

Duluth proposed ordinance to protect disapearing tree canopy; Duluth. MN

WDIO.com - Proposed Tree Ordinance:
'People come to Duluth for the trees and the water and the fishing and the hiking. They don't come to Duluth for asphalt and turf grass,' said Christine Penney, chair of the Duluth Tree Commission.
But Penney says due to recent development projects, Duluth is losing it's tree canopy. That's why the commission wants to include tree replacement requirements in the new city zoning code. Penney says it will help keep Duluth green and protect certain tree species.
'Our white pine, spruce, hemlock, tamarack, if you take out trees that add value, they need to be replaced at a set rate,' Penney said.
This requirement would apply to developers who cut down more than 10 significant trees, meaning those with trunks more than eight inches in diameter. And they'd only have to replant half the volume of trees they removed, or they could pay the city to do it.

Council to consider changes in development guide, including adoption of tree canopy ordinance; Louisville, KY

Council to consider changes in development guide courier-journal.com The Courier-Journal:
The Louisville Metro Council Thursday will consider three ordinances that would change a document that guides development in the metro area.

The ordinances would:* Protect public safety from excessive or dangerous signs* Encourage saving more trees* Incorporate the Floyds Fork parks project master plan into the documentNone of the ordinances is considered controversial, although the one pertaining to signs could be amended during the meeting.

The so-called tree canopy ordinance provides incentives for developers to save more trees in new developments and gives the city more authority to penalize them if they destroy trees that are supposed to be saved. It also outlaws planting non-indigenous trees and plants.

Tree ordinance move grows into resistance; Chapel Hill, NC

The Herald-Sun - Tree ordinance move grows into resistance: "A move to strengthen the town's tree ordinance hit a snag Monday, drawing criticism from both residents and council members for being too stringent.

As a result, the council sent the draft ordinance back to the drawing board and directed staff to return May 24 with a kinder, gentler version that addresses concerns voiced by council members and citizens during a public hearing on the matter Monday.

'I really wonder after reading this if we've kind of over-baked it,' said Councilman Gene Pease, who acknowledged his role in pushing the town toward the ordinance while serving on the Planning Board a few years ago.

As proposed, the ordinance would establish minimum tree canopy coverage for lots and individual tracts and standards for tree removal activities on residential property, excluding routine maintenance activities.

Removing trees in some instances would require a permit. Property owners would have to demonstrate that a lot will continue to meet minimum tree canopy coverage after trees are removed and replacement trees are planted."

Tree Protection Rules Come Under Fire; Chapel Hill, NC

1360 WCHL - Chapel Hill-Carrboro's News, Talk, and Tar Heels Station:
At Monday’s public hearing, planning consultant and Chapel Hill resident Scott Radway told the Town Council that while he often supports the town’s initiatives, he can’t stomach the new tree protection guidelines.
The proposed changes aim to protect the town’s tree canopy as a whole, instead of focusing on individual trees. Property owners would be required to maintain a percentage of canopy coverage based on the size of their lot. If trees are cut down, those larger than 36 inches would need to be replaced with species that grow to a minimum height of 20 feet to replenish the canopy.
Applicants would have the option of paying a mitigation fee of up to $1,000 per tree instead of replanting. The plan would apply to both residential and commercial property, though most small one and two family lots would be exempt from the regulations.

Town may toughen tree rules; Chapel Hill, NC

chapelhillnews.com Town may toughen tree rules:
Proposed changes to the town's tree-protection rules would require more than four out of 10 homeowners to keep at least 40 percent of their land covered by a tree canopy.
The Town Council will hold a public hearing on the changes Monday night at Town Hall. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
The proposal is drawing criticism from some citizens and questions from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce.
'It would appear to me you are about to go overboard again,' local builder Gary Buck wrote in an e-mail to the council. 'To stimulate business and well-being, you must have lessregulation, not more.'
The tree-protection rules aim to maintain the benefits trees offer the town: erosion and flooding control, noise buffers, pollutant absorption, climate moderation and wildlife shelter and food.

Effort to revisit tree ordinance places allies at odds; San Antonio, TX

Effort to revisit tree ordinance places allies at odds:
City officials are moving forward on an effort to overhaul San Antonio's tree ordinance, but the work-in-progress has sparked a curious disagreement between traditional allies.
The current version tries to address concerns raised in a report done for the city last year by American Forests, a Washington-based environmental consulting firm, which found that the city is gradually destroying its tree canopy in ways that threaten both air and water quality.
The new plan would lower the maximum allowable destruction of trees from 90 percent to roughly 80 percent; double the fees developers pay into a city mitigation fund from $100 to $200 per diameter inch of protected tree destroyed; and impose project-by-project shade requirements of 25 percent for commercial property and 38 percent for residential after developments are complete.
Exemptions for properties larger than half an acre with a home on them — a loophole some developers have abused — would be closed.

Town to hold hearing on proposed new tree-protection rules Monday; Chapel Hill, NC

chapelhillnews.com Town to hold hearing on tree-protection rules Monday:
The Town Council will consider new rules for tree protection in a public hearing set for 7 p.m. Monday.
The proposed text amendment to the Land Use Management Ordinance reflects suggestions and concerns heard at public information meetings held over the last five months.
The proposal seeks to protect the town's tree coverage without unreasonable regulation of smaller lots and homeowners, town officials said in a news release. The council has been reviewing these changes since 2007, in response to a petition from the Planning Board.
The proposed amendment would establish minimum tree canopy coverage requirements for individual lots and tracts. In addition, the proposed amendment would establish standards related to significant tree-removal activities on residential properties, excluding many routine maintenance activities.

New measures would formalize development rules, give greater prioirity to urban tree canopy goals; Worcester County, MD

Worcester measures would formalize development rules delmarvanow.com The Daily Times:
OCEAN CITY -- Worcester County officials are looking at changing two local laws to mirror what the state already has on the books.

The Worcester County Commissioners are expected to consider two bills at their meeting Tuesday, one on forest conservation and the other on stormwater management. The public would have an opportunity to comment before a final vote.Language for the forest conservation rules comes from laws passed in the 2008 and 2009 Maryland Legislative sessions. The measures reduce the amount of forest clearing that can be done, give high priority to urban tree canopy goals, increase fees and establish technological standards for reporting. The rules took effect statewide in October, and the Worcester County Department of Development Review and Permitting has been enforcing them.

Tree ordinance back on front burner - seeks to align with county ordinance; Richmond Hill, GA

- Tree ordinance back on front burner:
The Richmond Hill City Council discussed the proposed tree ordinance during a called meeting Tuesday at City Hall. The ordinance looks to require a minimum of 40 percent tree canopy tree coverage that developers and builders must incorporate into future projects.
Feedback from council members was positive, but no vote was taken. A yet-to-be-scheduled public hearing will take place before the ordinance reaches the point where it could be activated with a vote from council at a regularly scheduled council meeting.
The newly-revised ordinance has adopted many of the traits of the tree ordinance that Bryan County uses. Another campaign promise of Fowler’s was to get city and county ordinances on the same page, and this appears to be a step toward that"

City drafts new rules for tree protection during construction, forms partership with UW-Madison to assess tree canopy; Madison, WI

Good news for Madison's urban forest - Isthmus The Daily Page:
Madison Ald. Marsha Rummel says it's about time. The city of Madison is now drafting new rules requiring the protection of trees during construction and levying fines for violations.
'It's better because it's going to be upfront, and the expectation is that everybody is there to protect trees,' says Rummel of the new policy, which will likely be presented to the city's Board of Public Works next month.
Meanwhile, an auspicious new partnership between the university and the city forestry department has the potential to increase the total amount of city tree cover and eventually help improve lake water quality by reducing runoff.

Solicitor slugged $18k for jacaranda removal; Ku-ring-gai, Australia

Solicitor slugged $18k for jacaranda removal - Council - News Cumberland Courier:
A PYMBLE solicitor is out of pocket more than $18,000 for illegally removing a large jacaranda tree from his Telegraph Rd property.
Steven Stefanic was fined $10,000 for the offence and ordered to pay $8075 in legal and court costs.
The prosecution followed an investigation by Ku-ring-gai Council after a report by a neighbour.
Mr Stefanic had claimed the tree was a dead stump and pleaded not guilty to the offence.
However the council had obtained photographic evidence of the tree being removed by contractors.
Mayor Ian Cross welcomed the conviction and said it showed courts were willing to impose significant.

Conservancy concerned that measurables like percentage of tree canopy were shed from natural resources ordinance; Highland, MI

Planners reviewing comments on ordinance update:
The final public hearing on Highland Township's revamped zoning ordinance was held on Thursday, Jan. 7.
The Planning Commission will now review public input and decide how to move forward.
The zoning ordinance overhaul is the result of a two-year review that culminated in a slimmed downed, simplified document with up-to-date information.
There were three main concerns, Corwin said.
'The Highland Conservancy felt the natural resource preservation ordinance no longer includes any measurables, like percentage of tree canopy etc., or any regulations that builders must abide by,' she said. 'They want to see a more defined protection of our environment and natural resources. Another group was concerned about eliminating the 10 acre lots size minimum zone. We explained that the Master Plan defines the zone at 5 or 10 acre lot size zones and that the 10 acre zone was not defensible in court — that's why we changed to 5. The third group was a group of business owners concerned about the sign ordinance. They want more signage allowed and they were concerned about how long the process takes to get signs approved in the Highland Station District.'

Victoria Vision: Draft Saanich Urban Forest Strategy; Saanich, Victoria, BC

Victoria Vision: Draft Saanich Urban Forest Strategy:
Today is the final day for comments on the Draft Urban Forest Strategy for Saanich. This is my quick review and comments

The goals of the Saanich Urban Forest Strategy are:
Goal 1 Protect trees and expand the forest canopy
Goal 2 Respond to the changing environment
Goal 3 Engage the community
Goal 4 Promote effective management
Goal 5 Regulate arboricultural practices

Coming out of this are six priorities
Priority 1 Inventory the urban forest
Priority 2 Amend the Tree Preservation Bylaw, 1997, No. 7632
Priority 3 Coordinate urban forest management between District departments
Priority 4 Develop Urban Forest Design Guidelines
Priority 5 Protect and enhance Garry oak and their associated ecosystems
Priority 6 Increase community awareness, education and stewardship opportunities

Coming Soon: Guidelines for compliance with new ordinance requiring 20% of front yard to be landscaped; San Francisco, CA

Coming Soon: Guidelines For Tending Concrete Gardens Out Front at SocketSite™:
From San Francisco's Planning Department:
Code Enforcement Staff is currently working to develop public outreach and downloadable guidelines with information on how to comply with the city ordinance (Planning Code Section 132(g)) requiring at least 20 percent of the front yard to be devoted to landscaping or plant material.

Town issues RFP for street tree inventory to support planting plan, ordinance enforcement; Cornelius, NC

Town of Cornelius Tree Inventory and Analysis on Public Streeets right-of-way RFP